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Squash Ex-Pros In Diaspora Seek Wider Opportunities For Young Players
By Aderonke Ojo
Former Nigerian squash professionals in the diaspora have pledged stronger support for grassroots development of the sport, calling for sustained investment, wider competitions and greater international opportunities for young players.
The commitment was made at the closing ceremony of the seventh edition of the Squash in Diaspora Under-11, Under-13 and Under-17 Boys and Girls Junior Championship in Abuja.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the tournament held in Abuja for the first time after six editions in Lagos, attracted more than 100 young players from the FCT, Plateau and Kaduna States, among other parts of Northern Nigeria.
Haniel Hadison, Vice-President of the Nigeria Squash Federation (NSF) and tournament sponsor, described the initiative by former professionals in the diaspora as an important contribution to the development of squash in Nigeria.
“You can see that our stakeholders, the ex-professionals based abroad, are also making an effort to give back to the system.
“That is one very important aspect of continuing the developmental growth of squash in Nigeria,” he said.
He said almost 100 young players had been brought together through the tournament, adding that such initiatives would help keep children engaged in sports and provide a pathway for future national and international athletes.
“We have taken them off the streets, and that is the future of the nation through sports. The Federal Government cannot do this alone,” he said.
Hadison also commended the decision to move the tournament from Lagos to Abuja, saying it would help address the concentration of squash competitions in the southern part of the country.
Jonah Attah, Technical Director of the NSF and Vice-Chairman of the African Squash Federation, said the Abuja edition had exceeded expectations, particularly with the strong participation from Northern Nigeria.
He said the FCT produced 33 junior players, while Plateau and Kaduna produced 13 and 11 players respectively.
“The Under-11 had a chart of 32 that is massive. In the past for this same tournament, they used to have just 12 or 14. That shows you that what the federation is doing is working,” he said.
Attah said the growth demonstrated the impact of the NSF’s development roadmap, adding that the quality of play showed that the tournament had achieved more than simply exposing young players to competition.
Sonia DeRosesa, a visiting junior squash player, commended the commitment of the Nigerian players and expressed optimism about the future of the sport in the country.
“I would say that Nigerian squash is on the rise and that everyone should look out in the future. They’re working hard. They’re competing,” she said.
Segun Maku, a former North American and Nigerian champion, also backed increased investment in grassroots development, saying former professionals had a duty to give back to the sport that helped shape their careers.
“This tournament means a lot to me because it reminds me of my days coming up in the sport. I am glad that we, the former professionals, are giving back,” he said.
He expressed optimism that sustained development could enable Nigerian players to make a stronger impact at international competitions within the next five to 10 years.
“Hopefully, in the next five to 10 years, we will start getting into the main draws and probably start winning most international tournaments,” he said.
Iniobong Jacob called for more equipment, coaching and strategic partnerships, saying young players who had previously struggled in competitions were now showing significant improvement.
“Some of the young boys and girls you see here started playing in tournaments like this years ago. They would lose by 3-0 margins and things like that. But over time, they have progressed steadily,” he said.
Adekunle Adebiyi, Secretary of Nigerian Squash Players in the Diaspora and one of the organisers and sponsors, said the tournament cost more than N10 million and described its successful completion as fulfilling.
“Everything we did was for the children. So, we are happy and fulfilled,” Adebiyi said.
He said the organisers would continue to improve the championship and explore taking future editions to other parts of the country, including the South-East and Kano.
“Our aim is to develop the sport and go to places where we can bring new players into the game. That was why we knew we had to leave Lagos. Lagos is already well catered to,” he said.
NAN reports that the event, which commenced on Tuesday, ended on Saturday at the Squash Courts of the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Package B, in Abuja.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
Edited by Joseph Edeh
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The Chairman of First HoldCo Plc, Femi Otedola, has described the company’s inclusion in the FTSE Frontier 50 Index as a “defining milestone” in the evolution of the financial services group.
FirstHoldCo is scheduled to join the FTSE Frontier 50 Index, a benchmark tracking leading and investable companies across frontier markets, effective 21 September 2026.
The inclusion places FirstHoldCo among six Nigerian companies represented in the index. It is expected to strengthen its visibility among global institutional investors seeking exposure to Nigeria and other frontier markets.
Mr Otedola, in a statement issued on Monday, said the development affirmed the transformation the company is undertaking and the confidence investors continue to place in the institution.
“Our inclusion in the FTSE Frontier 50 Index is a defining milestone in FirstHoldCo’s evolution.
“It affirms the transformation we are driving, the confidence investors continue to place in our institution, and the strength of our governance and business model.
“We remain focused on building a stronger, more profitable and globally competitive financial services group, while delivering superior and sustainable value to shareholders,” he said.
The FTSE Frontier 50 Index comprises companies that meet stringent requirements relating to market capitalisation, liquidity, free float, governance and investability.
FirstHoldCo said its inclusion followed a period of strong market performance and sustained investor interest, supported by improved financial results, strategic execution, enhanced governance and its focus on long-term shareholder value.
The company said the development was more than an index listing, describing it as an independent recognition of its scale, governance standards, market depth and long-term value proposition.
It said the inclusion could also lead to deeper liquidity, increased participation by institutional investors and greater access to global capital.
Asset managers, exchange-traded funds, pension funds, and other investors that track frontier-market opportunities are expected to take a greater interest in the company as a result of its inclusion in the index.
The development comes after FirstHoldCo said it had met the Central Bank of Nigeria’s minimum capital requirement.
The group said it remained focused on strengthening its capital base, improving financial resilience and creating capacity for accelerated growth.
Its strengthened balance sheet, expanding shareholder base and focus on disciplined execution, it said, would enable it to compete at a greater scale across its businesses.
The Group Managing Director of FirstHoldCo, Wale Oyedeji, said the achievement reflected the commitment and execution of the company’s board, management and employees.
READ ALSO: FirstHoldco, Dangote, four other Nigerian companies admitted to FTSE’s 50 most liquid frontier market stocks
“This achievement reflects the discipline, commitment and execution focus of our Board, Management and employees.
“It validates the progress we have made in strengthening performance, enhancing operations and positioning FirstHoldCo for sustainable growth,” Mr Oyedeji said.
According to him, the inclusion would elevate the company’s visibility among global institutional investors and reinforce its ambition to become a leading African financial services provider.
FirstHoldCo said it would continue to invest in digital transformation, customer experience, innovation and responsible business practices while maintaining its focus on sustainable growth and stakeholder value.
The company also said its emphasis on environmental, social and governance principles, workplace excellence and operational efficiency would further strengthen institutional confidence in the group.
With global investors becoming increasingly selective in allocating capital to frontier markets, FirstHoldCo said its inclusion in the index represented a significant recognition of its fundamentals, governance credentials, liquidity and growth trajectory.
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